We really hit the jackpot staying at Hotel Barceló in Playa Blanca. For our first trip to Lanzarote, we couldn’t have chosen a better base. Not only is the Barceló absolutely beautiful in both architecture and design, the hotels location was just the ticket too. Set right on the seafront in Playa Blanca, it was the perfect place to spend 5 sunny days exploring this wonderfully volcanic Canary Island.
If you’re searching for a swish, modern hotel in Lanzarote, the Barceló should be high on your list. It’s spacious, stylish, the rooms are bright and airy and the swimming pool is absolutely ginormous – it looks never ending! Even better, there’s direct gated access onto the promenade, ideal for breezy beach days and those warm golden evening strolls us Brits dream about.
Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca at a Glance 👀
- Beautiful, modern hotel
- Perfect location for exploring Playa Blanca and beyond
- Room options to suit all budgets
- Ginormous pool (part heated during shoulder season)
- Good variety of food in the buffet
In this article...
Room choices at Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to room types and choices at Hotel Barceló. There’s standard rooms, rooms with a pool/sea view, superior rooms, rooms with balconies, suites, and even rooms with fancy swim up pools. I’ve never stayed in a swim-up room, but they do look like a luxurious holiday treat! Although, you’d want it to be heated if visiting shoulder season.
Prices jump a lot depending on which room you go for, but this also leaves it open to suit lots of different budgets and party sizes. Whether you want to try and keep your holiday as affordable as possible, or if you’re in a position to go all out with one of their top tier room options, there something for everyone. See whats available here.
Barceló superior room with pool view
We stayed in room 4313, a ‘Superior room with pool view’ and it was perfect.
Located on the fourth floor, we had a good sized balcony overlooking the pool, the marina, and beyond towards the hazy silhouette of Fuerteventura.
It took us by surprise how spacious the room was, and we both loved the simplistic, neutral design with splashes of blue which kept it feeling fresh and modern. Hanging space was spread across two wardrobes, and there was a small under-the-counter fridge and kettle as you entered the room.
We also had a large grey sofa to lounge on, and the double bed (which was actually two singles pushed together) had quite possibly the worlds most comfortable mattress on it. It was the perfect level of firmness, as were the selection of pillows, and the crisp white bedding was the correct tog to keep you cosy throughout the night – even with the air-con on.
The room had a large smart TV, and lots of different accent lighting peppered around the room to create those ambient low-lit moments ready to relax in the evenings.
Don’t worry if your nicely pre-ironed clothes arrive crumpled after unpacking, there’s an ironing board and iron inside your room. Plus if you forgot to pack a toothbrush they provide a couple of handy bamboo ones, complete with the tiniest tubes of toothpaste known to man. Other provisions include a hairdryer, toiletries, vanity set and of course tea, coffee, UHT milk and two little water cartons were dropped off daily.
Ensuite-bathroom with a twist!
One quirk that’s worth knowing about the Barceló; the showers in the main room, separated by frosted glass rather than being in a fully enclosed bathroom. Not a problem for us as a couple, but it might feel a bit awkward if you’re travelling with friends or kids, as you can still see a fair amount through it. Thankfully the toilet is in it’s own little room, so you don’t need to worry about that. Phew!
This slightly unusual design means the basin and mirror becomes open plan too, which I actually really liked. It made the room feel bigger, and it was great for doing your makeup in natural light.
Royal Level vs regular Barceló guests
In a way, Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca is split into two separate hotels; Hotel Barceló and Royal Level.
Barceló is the regular side, whilst Royal Level guests get to arrive in style in little golf buggies and enjoy some extra fancy things and perks across the complex.
We were in the regular part which was beautiful, but if you want a bit more peace and quiet then Royal Level would be a better option for you. It’s adults only, and as its further away from both the hotels evening entertainment and main pool, it’s more relaxing at that end of the hotel.
We went for a stroll through all the Royal Level parts that we could gain access to, and had a little nosey at the swim-up pools which looked dreamy.
Royal Level guests also get free parking, and a different buffet restaurant to dine in.
Quick word of warning, there was building work happening beside this side of the hotel, so I’m not sure if that could have been causing any disruptions to Royal Level guests who had rooms near it.
Ginormous outdoor swimming pool
The pool at Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca is one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, it just goes on and on!
In March only half of it was heated, and even that was a little chilly at first. But once you’d braved it, it was surprisingly enjoyable and we both had a great time swimming about in there. I imagine in the summer its pure bliss, but far busier with lots of people wanting to splash around and cool down.
As we were only here for a quick 5-day trip, we didn’t leave much free time for swimming. But after our exhilarating off-road buggy tour, we got to enjoy one afternoon relaxing poolside. By this time, the majority of the sun loungers near the pool had been claimed, but very few people were actually there using them. Those inevitable early morning sun-lounger towel reservers seem to be at every resort you go to! Eventually we settled down with our books in the sun. Lanzarote is a windy island, and being close to the seafront did keep it breezy by the pool, so just bare that in mind.
Ps. if you’re wondering why the sky is such a strange colour in my photos, it’s because there was a calima!
Read more about: Lanzarote Off-Road Buggy Tour Review: H2O Sports Experience
Is the food good at hotel Barceló Playa Blanca?
As half-board guests we had breakfast and dinner included within our stay, and our overall scores averaged out at an 8/10.
Breakfast was full of flaky pastries, fruit, cereals, creamy porridge, baked goods and breads. Along with cooked breakfasts, sliced meats and cheeses and authentic local cuisine. They also had a smoothie section, and so many jams and honeys to chose from. It was delicious.
Dinner offered a variety of flavours from around the world, with an Italian counter being a permanent feature. We had stir-fry’s, flavour-packed curries, pasta dishes, chicken drumsticks, fluffy rice, fish, roast potatoes and so much more. There was always a tempting selection of desserts too, from pretty layered cakes, to fruit tarts and chocolate sponges. Not forgetting the glass jars filled to the brim with sweets for all the pick & mix lovers.
Being half board we could only have water at dinner, no soft drinks or alcohol (unless you paid per drink) whist at breakfast there was fresh fruit juices, smoothies and hot drinks included.
The buffet hall itself is beautifully styled, with plenty of seating, and the food counters were well laid out to avoid over crowding. There are two sittings available, you can pick between early (5:30-6:30) or late (8:30-9:30) we went for the latter to maximise our time exploring Lanzarote.
Other onsite restaurants and bars
If you don’t want to eat in the hotels buffet every night, they do have a couple other onsite restaurant options available at the Barceló. We planned to go to the Mexican (Mexico Lindo) one night, but sadly we never made it. The menu sounded mouth-wateringly good and well priced too, so I think we missed out there! If you fancy some Japanese food, head to KOI for sushi, flavours of Asia and theres even a Korean BBQ area.
Champs Sports bar has multiple TV screens to watch your favourite sports, and theres the Breeze pool bar during the day.
There’s also restaurants directly behind the hotel, under 5 minutes away. We went to Namaste, and enjoyed a delicious Indian meal one night – highly recommend.
Is there any evening entertainment?
The evening entertainment area at Hotel Barceló is really impressive. It’s like a white washed amphitheatre-style that sits beneath a big pleated canopy overhead.
There’s a mix of seating, with tables and chairs at he bottom. But I really liked the casual, laid-back vibe of the steps and cushions that surrounded it.
We popped by a couple nights on the way back to our room and saw a gymnastic type show and karaoke another night which is always entertaining!
Its not quite cruise-level entertainment, like the shows or productions you see on a P&O cruise ship. But it’s definitely enjoyable, and better than many hotels.
Does hotel Barceló have a kids area?
Hotel Barceló is a great family hotel with lots for kids of all ages to enjoy. Theres a climbing wall, and some arcade like games along with a pool table in the One Teens Club.
The main pool doesn’t get overly deep (1.5m) which is reassuring for families with children, and there’s a separate kids pool complete with small water slides for younger children to enjoy.
Barceló reception – beautiful but slow
The reception area was probably the hotels biggest downfall and weakest part of the entire experience.
While the space itself looks impressive with its high vaulted ceilings and glass-like infinity pool. Sadly the queues were often long (around 20-30 minutes).
Check-in was slow (although you do get a refreshing free welcome drink which was lovely) but this sluggish system really backed up the queue all the way down the reception hall.
They would really benefit from having a few extra staff on the reception desks, or even just a couple staff floating around the area for quick and easy questions.
For example, we left our bags in their storage room the day we checked out. When we returned, we had to queue for 20 minutes just to ask if someone could let us back into the storage room. By that point, it wasn’t long before our Jet2 coach transfer arrived. I think having a few extra staff for quick queries like this would have been hugely beneficial and improve the experience for their guests.
Do they have a luggage storage room?
Check-out is at 12:00, and If you’re flights aren’t until later in the day you can leave your luggage in their store room behind the reception desk.
They will give you a little numbered ticket, which you will need to show them when you go to collect. As mentioned above, make sure you leave plenty of time to collect your bags as you could be waiting in the queue for reception for a while.
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Is Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca in a good location?
Hotel Barceló is in such a fantastic location. It’s right on the seafront where the promenade stretches to Playa Blanca town in one direction and over to Rubicon Marina in the other.
We loved that the hotel had its own secure gated access to the promenade (which you could unlock with your room key bracelets) where there were plenty of restaurants directly behind the hotel, a marina, shops and coastal walks. We enjoyed how easy it was to go for an evening stroll after dinner.
Playa Blanca was a great base for all of our driving days too. Lanzarote is only small, you can hire a car and drive from one end of the island to the other in just over an hour (which we did to visit La Graciosa), but it was nice to have all these options right next to our hotel.
Is parking free at the Barceló?
Parking is charged at €5 per day, which you will need to pay at the hotel reception. The first time you enter the carpark the machine will spit out a ticket, simply give this to reception to settle X-amount of days. After that, the barriers will read your numberplate and raise as you drive up to them.
The hotels carpark is large and spacious and we chose to use it, purely to make sure the hire car was safe! However, there is free and plentiful parking all around the hotel, so you really don’t need to pay for it unless you want to for peace of mind.
Royal Level guests get to enjoy free parking as one of their perks.
Things to do nearby
There’s so much you can do from Hotel Barceló, and it’s a great place to base yourself if you’re looking to do some road trips during your time in Lanzarote. I’ll be writing an article soon about all the things we managed to do during our 5 days here – but for now, here are some things that you can walk to from the hotel.
- Rubicon Marina – a casual 10-15 minute stroll along the prominade to take a look at the boats or enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants. There’s some sweet little shops in this direction too.
- Rubicon mall – a small indoor shopping centre that had a crazy golf out the front.
- Coastal walk to Castillo de las Coloradas or keep going and you’ll make it to the famous Papagayo beach.
- Enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants right behind the hotel – highly recommend Namaste if you like an Indian.
- Playa Blanca town is a 10-15 minute stroll away where you’ll find lots more shops and restaurants, along with a beautiful sandy beach.
Pros and Cons of Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca
Pros
- Huge, impressive pool
- Excellent location
- Spacious, modern rooms
- Great food variety
- Ideal for families and couples
- Room key was on a bracelet
Cons
- Long reception queues
- Shower privacy may not suit everyone
- Sunbed reserving can be frustrating
Useful Information About Hotel Barceló
- Star Rating: 4*
- Number of Rooms: 720
- Distance From Airport: 27km
- Address: Avenida de Papagayo, 26, Playa Blanca, 35580, Lanzarote, Spain
- Check In Time: 3:00pm
- Check Out Time: 12:00pm
- Reception: 24 Hours
Final thoughts
Hotel Barceló Playa Blanca ticked pretty much every box for us. From the spacious, beautifully designed rooms to the fantastic seafront location and enormous pool, it delivered exactly what we wanted for our Lanzarote escape.
The location is ideal with Playa Blanca town and Rubicon Marina both just a short stroll away, and it made a great base for all our day trips exploring the real wilderness side of Lanzarote!
We visited in March and the hotel never felt crowded. It was only the reception queues that were a bit frustrating at times, although they didn’t take away from what was otherwise a brilliant stay.
We’d happily return, and that says it all.
Want to stay? Check their availability here.
Before you go …
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Here’s a look at the hotel:
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